INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN-- The 17th edition of the Fajr International Poetry Festival opened in Shiraz on Saturday with a homage to the victims of the Shah
Cheragh terrorist attack.Several pilgrims checking out Shah Cheragh, the shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa (AS) in the southern Iranian city, were
killed in the attack carried out by ISIS last October
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Ali Ramezani, the director of the Iran Book and Literature House, an organizer of the festival,
expressed his joy over the choice of Shiraz to host the event
We started the celebration in a city that has relocated to spotlight in the country due to the terrorist attack and now it is a place where
the nations poetic saplings will sprout, he said.He called poetry the major part of Iranians identity and said, What encouraged us to
select Shiraz to host the festival is the potential individuals in the Fars region have for poetry and literature
Ramezani revealed his hope the festival could help uncover individualss untold stories and bring unity back to the society.Fars
governor-general deputy in political, security and social concerns Esmaeil Mohebbipur also participated in the opening ceremony of the
festival.In a short speech, he stated that different problems of the present time and the future are reflected by literati in literature and
poetry, and added the nation requires a future loaded with hope and joy in order to progress.Fars Culture and Islamic Guidance Department
director Hamidreza Qanei also provided a speech.He stated that Shiraz is primarily popular for being the houses of renowned poets such as
Sadi and Hafez, and expressed his hope that choosing Shiraz as the host city would produce excellent outcomes for the event.Ahad Dehbozorgi,
Mahmud Ekramifard, Reza Esmaeili, Gholamreza Kafi and several other poets recited their most current works at the opening ceremony, which
ended with unveiling a poster for the festival.Poets from throughout the country will provide their compositions produced over the previous
year at the festival.Photo: Organizers and literati present after revealing a poster for the 17th Fajr International Poetry Festival in
Shiraz on January 7, 2023.
